Valves for gas burners or the like



Dec. 6, 1960 J. w. DOLBY ETAI.

VALVES FOR GAS BURNERS OR THE LIKE Filed June 1'7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 1 INVENTORS zfolm Z4. Dolby BY Jeri" Z142 er flfiornegs Dec. 6, 1960 Filed June 17, 1955 MOVEMENT 0F NEEQLE fIN, e

' J. w. DOLBY ETAL VALVES FOR GAS BURNERS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEGINNING FRY SHUr-OFF INVENTORS John W D0? y J y I WW ZZLZ jib/wears Uflitt? 1 VALVES FOR GAS BURNERS OR THE LIKE Filed June 17, 1955, Ser. No. 516,214

2 Claims. ,(Cl. 137-628) This invention relates to new and improved manually operable control valves for regulating the flow of gas to a burner on a cooking range or the like.

One principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved valve which will continuously vary the flow of gas between positions of maximum and minimum flow. v

A further object is to provide a new and improved valve of the foregoing character which is adjustablev along an operating range so as to vary the flow of gas between minimum and maximum values, in accordance with predetermined graph, the valve being adjustable to a shutolf position at one end of said range.

Another object is to provide a new and improved valve of the foregoing character whereby the flow rate of the gas may be rapidly reduced from a maximum point, suitable for bringing water to a boil, to an intermediate point, suitable for frying and other general cooking, and then more gradually to a minimum point, suitable for simmering or keeping food warm.

It is a further object to provide a new and improved valve of the foregoing character which may be arranged to provide a setting, beyond the minimum point of the continuously variable range, affording a fixed, low, flow rate.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve constituting a first illustrative embodiment of the invention, the view being taken generally along a line 11 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the rear portion of a valve needle embodied in the valve of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a cam embodied in the valve of Fig. 1.

Fig. '4 is a cross-sectional view, taken generally along .a line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken generally along a line 5- 5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, of a modified valve constituting a second illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view, taken generally along a line 7 7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of another modified valve, constituting a third illustrative embodiment 'of the invention.

seen that they illustrate a valve 20 which is adapted for use in connection with a gas burner ona cooking range,

for the purpose of controlling the flow of gas to the ;burner. The illustrated valve 20 comprises body 22 States Patent 0 2,963,042 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 external and internal threads 32 and 34 are formed on the tubular body portion 26 and the sleeve 30 to secure these elements together and permit longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve. It will be noted that the orifice 28 communicates coaxially with the front end of the needlereceiving bore 24.

Flow of gas through the orifice 28 may be regulated by means of a needle 38 having a tapered point 40 which is movable into and out of the orifice so as to vary the effective area thereof. The needle 38 is movable longitudinally in the bore 24.

To guide the needle 38, while permitting gas to flow along the bore 24, the needle 38 is equipped with a plurality of radial, longitudinally extending fins, three of such fins 42, 43 and 44 being illustrated. The fins may be formed integrally with the needle 38. The needle is held against rotation by means of a key-way 46 (Figs. 1 and 5), which extends longitudinally along the bore 24. The fin 44 is slidably received in the key-Way 46. Preferably, the fin 44 is made of greater height than the other fins 42 and 43 so that the latter may be slidably guided in the bore 24 while the fin 44 is slidably received in the key-Way 46.

It will be recognized that the flow of gas through the orifice 28 may be regulated by moving the needle 38 into and out of the orifice. To shut off the flow entirely, the valve 20 is provided with a rotatable valve member 48, which, in this instance, takes the form of a tapered plug having a frusto-conical tapered outer surface 50. The plug 48 is received or seated in a tapered bore 52 which extends coaxially from the rear end of the needlereceiving bore 24. The plug 48 may be manually rotated by means of a stem 54 which extends rearwardly from the plug and is adapted to receive a control knob (not shown). The plug 48 is biased into the bore 52 by means of a coiled compression spring 56 which is dis posed around the stem 54 and is interposed between the rear end of the plug and a retaining plate assembly 58, removably mounted on the rear end of the body 22 by means of screws 60 or the like.

7 It will be seen that the plug-receiving bore 52 is tapered to mate with the tapered outer surface 50 of the plug 48 and form a seal therewith. Gas is carried to the interengaging, tapered valve surfaces 50 and 52 by means of an inlet passage 62 extending through an externally threaded, laterally projecting tubular portion 64 of the valve body 22. It will be recognized that the tubular portion 64 may be connected to a supply pipe (not shown).

Porting is provided in the valve plug 48, so that communication will be afforded between the inlet passage 62 and the needle-receiving bore 24, throughout a predetermined range of rotation of the plug 48. In this instance the porting takes the form of an arcuate slot 66 (Figs. 1 and 4) extending through an annular wall 68 defined by an axial opening 70 which is formed in the plug 48. The axial opening 7t and the front portion of the tapered bore 52 afford communication between the port 66 and the rear end of the needle-receiving bore 24.

The angular extent of the elongated port 66 may be variedaccording to the specific requirements to be met by the valve. For example, the length of the port 66 may be such that communication will be alforded between the inlet passage 62 and the bore 24 throughout a range of rotation extending between degrees and 250 degrees, taking the shut-off position of the valve as the zero point. In the graph of Fig. 10, the 90 degree and 250 degree positions are designated Full On and Simmer. These settings constitute the positions of maximum and minimum flow through the orifice28, as regulated by the needle 38, in the manner to be described shortly. The zero position is designated by the legend Shut-Off.

A cam 72 (Figs. 1 and 3) and a cam follower 74 (Figs. 1 and 2) are interposed between the valve member 48 and the needle 38, in order that the needle may be advanced and retracted, in accordance with rotation of the valve member, the relation between movement of the needle and the rotation of the valve member being governed by the shape of the cam. In this instance, the cam 72 is carried-by the valve member 48 while the follower 74 is carried by the needle 38. As illustrated, the cam 72 is annular in form and is mounted on the front end of the valve plug 48. t The opening 70 in the plug 48 is provided with an enlarged front portion 76 which receives a reduced rear portion 78 of the cam 72. The portions '76 and 78 may be dimensioned so as to provide a press fit therebetween. In this way, or in any other suitable manner, the cam 72 is fixed to the valve plug 48.

A cam face 80 is formed at the front end of the cam 72 for engagement by the cam follower 74. As illustrated, the follower 74 comprises a rearward extension of one of the fins on the needle 38, preferably the fin 44. In order to maintain engagement between the follower 74 and the face cam 7-2, the needle 38 is biased rearwardly by means of a coiled compression spring 82, disposed around the front end of the needle and interposed between the front wall of the sleeve 30 and the front ends of the fins 42-44.

While the shape of the cam surface may be varied somewhat, it is preferred to form the surface with a low portion 84 (Fig. 3), defining the most rearwardly retracted position of the needle 38. For this fully retracted position of the needle, the flow of gas through the orifice 28 is at a maximum. The low portion 84 of the cam 72 preferably extends along a level, transverse radial plane throughout a considerable interval. For example, the low portion 84 may extend between the zero or Shut-Off position of the valve member 48 and a point, designated 86 in Fig. 10, which is at or slightly beyond the Full On position. This point 86 represents 100 degrees of rotation of the valve members.

The Full On position of the needle 38 affords a maximum flow of gas, and a correspondingly high heat output from the burner connected to the valve. While the Full On setting is useful for bringing water to a boil, it is usually too high for frying and general cooking. Accordingly, the cam 72 is arranged so that the flow rate may be rapidly reduced as the valve member 48 is moved beyond the Full On position. To this end, the cam surface is formed with a steeply inclined portion 88 which rises from the end of the low portion 84. In Fig. 3, the junction between the portions 84 and 88 is designated 90. This point corresponds to.the point-86 on the graph of Fig. 10. In the example illustrated by the graph of Fig. 10, the steeply rising portion 88 extends between 100 degrees and 135 degrees of rotation of the valve member 48. The 135 degree position is designated Beginning Fry in Fig. 10, to indicate that this setting of the valve provides a flow rate which is suitable for initial frying of food.

Once the cooking of food has begun, it is generally desirable toturn down the heat to a low setting, which may vary considerably according to the'typeof cooking being done. To this end, the valve surface 80 is' formed with a substantially less sharply inclined portion 92 which joins with the portion 88 at a point 94, and is arranged to rise gradually throughout the remainder of the range of operation provided by the port 66. It will be 'u'nderstood'that the point 94 on the cam 72 corresponds to the Beginning Fry point on the graph of Fig. 10. At the upper end of the inclined surface 92 the cam reaches a high point 96, at which the needle 38 is advanced to the maximum possible extent. This point on the cam corresponds to the Simmer point on the graph of Fig. 10. At the Simmer point, the flow of gas is small in value to provide a low heat setting, suitable for maintaining a boil in most covered vessels.

It will be noted that the graph of Fig. 10 plots the movement of the needle, in thousandths of an inch, against the rotation of the valve member, in degrees. Thus the graph amounts to a developed view of the cam 72.

In addition to the range of continuous variation afforded by the cam 72 and the needle 38, the valve 20 may be ranged to afford a fixed low setting, which is so designated in Fig. 10. This Fixed Low" setting is located beyond the range of continuous variation, and may be arranged to occur at 290 of rotation of the valve member 48. To provide this additional setting, the valve member or plug 48 is formed with an additional port in the form of a passage 98 adapted to register with the inlet passage 62. As shown in Fig. 4, the passage 98 is spaced angularly from one end of the arcuate slot 66. While the passage 98 might be made of a sufiiciently s'mall, fixed size to provide the desired low rate of flow at the low setting, it is preferred to provide adjustable means for restricting the, passage. In this instance the passage 98 extends from the outside of the plug 48 to a conical slot 98a at the end of the bore 70. A conical plug 98b is biased into sealing relation with the seat by means of a spring 98c. Formed on the conical plug 98b is a flat 98d, adapted to. be registered with the passage 98. The conical plug 98 may be rotated by inserting a screwdriver or other tool through an axial bore 98s, formed in the valve stem 54. A stem 98 is formed on the conical plug 98b and is fitted with a kerfedmember 98g which may be engaged by the tool. It will be seen that the spring 980 acts between the kerfed member 98g and the end of the bore 98a. Rotating the conical plug 98b will vary the extent of registration between the flat 98d and the passage 98. In this way, the passage 98 may be restricted to any desired extent.

The cam 72 is arranged so that the needle 38 will be retracted as the valve plug 48 is rotated between the Simmer point and the Fixed Low point. To this end, an inclined surface 100 slopes downwardly from the high point 96 of the cam 72. The surface 100 is effective to retract the needle 38 so that the fiow rate at the Fixed Low point will be determined primarily by the open portion of the passage 98. t

It will be seen that the graph of Fig. 10 comprises a horizontal line 102 corresponding to the level or low portion 84 of the cam 72, together with upwardly inclined lines 104 and 106, corresponding to the inclined surfaces 88 and 92. A downwardly inclined line 108 represents the downwardly inclined surface 100.

It will be understood that the Fixed Low setting is an optional feature which may be omitted in some cases. The passage 98, with its restricting means, and the downwardly sloping cam surface 100 will then be unnecessary. In the operation of the valve shown in Figs. l-S, the rate .of flow of gas through the valve is controlled by manually rotating the stem 54. This rotates the valve plug 48, as well as the face cam 72, which is connected to the front end of the plug. The rotation of the cam results in advancing and retracting movement of the needle 38, into and out of the discharge orifice 28. It will be understood that the cam acts in a positive manner to advance the needle 38, and that the needle is retracted by the action ofthe spring 82 in holding the cam follower 74 against the cam.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the valve 20 is illustrated in its fully open or Full On position. Thus the arcuate slot 66 in the plug 48 is registered with the inlet passage 62. The cam follower 74 is engaged with the low portion 84 of the cam, with the result that the needle 38 is fully retracted. Accordingly, the gas flows through the inlet passage 62 and the port 66 into the axial bore 70 in the plug 48. The gas then flows through the ring-shaped cam 72, the front portion of the plug-receiving bore 52,

the needle-receiving bore 24, and the sleeve 30, into the discharge orifice. Because of the fins 42-44 on the needle 38, the gas is able to flow around the needle in passing through the bore 24.

The valve 20 may be shut olf by rotating the plug 48 counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 4, until the arcuate slot 66 no longer registers with the inlet port 62. During such rotation of the plug 48, the cam follower 74 remains on the low portion 84 of the cam 72, with the result that the needle 38 remains in its fully retracted position. Of course, the cam 72 could be arranged to advance the needle 38 into the orifice 28, during rotation of the valve plug between the Full On and Shut-Off positions. Such an arrangement would provide a gradual reluction in the flow of gas between these positions.

If it is desired to reduce the flow of gas, after the valve has been set in its fully open position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the valve plug 48 may be rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. 4. Such rotation of the plug 48 will bring the steeply inclined cam surface 88 into engagement with the cam follower 74 and thus will result in rapidly advancing movement of the needle 38. The rapid initial movement of the needle is represented by the sharply rising line 104 on the graph of Fig. 10. Continued rotation of the plug 48 will bring the gradually inclined cam surface 92 against the cam follower 74. As a result, the needle 38 will be gradually advanced from the Beginning Fry position to the Simmer position, represented in Fig. 10. Such movement of the needle is represented by the gradually inclined line 106 in Fig. 10. At the Simmer position, the cam follower 74 is on the high point 96 of the cam, and the needle 3-8 is advanced to the maximum possible extent. As a result, the needle 38 greatly restricts the orifice 28 so that the flow of gas is at a low value which will maintain boiling in most covered vessels.

The valve 20 may be adjusted to its Fixed Low position by rotating the valve plug 48 still farther, beyond the Simmer position. This will move the arcuate slot 66 away from the inlet passage 62 and will bring the auxiliary port 98 into register with the inlet passage. At the same time, the downwardly inclined cam surface 100 will be moved into engagement with the cam follower 7'4, with the result that the needle 38 will be retracted from its fully advanced position. In the Fixed Low position, the open portion of the auxiliary port 98 is the primary factor in determining the flow rate of the gas.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified valve 120, which, to a large extent, is similar to the valve of Figs. l-S. To that extent, the same reference characters have been employed in Figs. 6 and 7 as in Figs. 1-5. Only the points of difference need be described in detail.

The modified valve 120 comprises a slightly modified valve body 122 formed with a tapered bore 152 in which a modified valve plug 148 is received. As illustrated, the plug 148 is somewhat shorter than the plug 48. Formed on the plug 148 is a tapered outer surface 150 which mates with the tapered bore 152. The arcuate slot 66 in the plug 148 is the same as in the valve of Figs. l-5.

To actuate the needle 38, the modified valve 120 is provided with a face cam 172, which may be essentially the same as the cam 72 of Figs. l-S, except that the modified cam 172 is fixedly mounted on the needle 38, rather than on the valve plug 148. A cam following actuator element 174 is formed as a forwardly extending projection on the valve plug 148, rather than as a projection on the needle, s in Figs.- 1-5 T e a e 0 0f the cam 172 may be the swam in the first embodiment of Figs.

1-5. Thus, the modified valve of Figs. 6 and 7 will afford essentially the same control characteristics as those graphically presented in Fig. 10.

It will be noted that the modified cam 172 is ring-shaped and is formed with an axial bore or opening 175, which is press fitted over the fins 42-44 on the needle 38. A key-way 177 is formed in the bore 175 to receive the outer portion of the fin 44. In this way the proper orientation of the cam 172 is automatically assured.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another modified valve 220. To the extent that this valve is the same as the one illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the same reference characters have been employed. The second modified valve 220 comprises a valve body 222 formed with a needle-receiving bore 224. A slightly modified needle 238 is slidable along the bore 224. The needle 238 has a pair of slightly modified fins 243, corresponding generally to the fins 42 and 43 of Figs. 1-5, together with a third fin 244, having a front portion 245 which is slidably received in a key-way 246. In this instance, the key-way 246 extends only along the front portion of the needlereceiving bore 224. Elongated notches 247 are cut out of the fins 243 and 244, to permit peripheral flow of gas around the needle 238.

To shut off the flow of gas, the modified valve 220 is provided with a valve member 248 which takes the form of a disk having a forwardly facing, fiat end surface 250, which engages a complementary, flat, rearwardly facing valve surface 252 on the valve body 222. The valve disk 248 may be rotated by means of a stem or shaft 254 which is journalled in a housing 255 secured to the valve body 222. It will be seen that the valve disk 248 is enclosed within the housing 255. The stem 254 is connected to the valve disk 248 by means of a disk 256 which is fixed to the rear end of the stem. Extending forwardly from the disk 256 is a lug or projection 257 which is received in a slot or notch 258, formed in the rear portion of the valve disk 248. A spring 259 is interposed between the disk 256 and the valve disk 248 to bias the valve disk forwardly against the valve body 222.

Gas is admitted to the valve body 222 through an inlet passage 262 which extends to the interengaging valve surfaces 250 and 252. A diagonal outlet passage 263 affords communication between the valve disk 248 and the needle-receiving bore 224. As illustrated, the outlet passage 263 is spaced angularly from the inlet passage 262. It will be understood that the position of the passage 263 may be varied to obtain the various operating characteristics.

a To afford selective communication between the inlet and outlet passages 262 and 263, an arcuate port or recess 266 is formed in the front face 250 of the valve disk 248. This port 266 may be of such an angular extent as to provide the same operating characteristics as in the valves of Figs. l-S, although it will be understood that the shape and extent of the port may be varied in accolrdance with the specific requirements to be met by the va ve.

The needle 238 is operated by a face cam 272, which may have the same cam face 80 as the cam of Figs. l-5, so as to give the operating characteristics illustrated in Fig. 10. However, the cam 272 is rotatably mounted in the rear end of the needle-receiving bore 224. A driving connection is established between the valve disk 248 and the cam 272 by means of an axial shaft 273, which is journalled in a bore 275 formed in the valve body 222. Flat surfaces 277 and 279 are formed on the ends of the shaft 273 in order that the valve disk 248, the shaft 273 and the cam 272 may rotate as a unit. A washer 281 is interposed between the cam 272 and the rear end of the needle-receiving bore 224.

The face cam 272 is engaged by a cam follower 283, which takes the form of a rearwardly projecting portion 7 of the fin 244, much as in Figs. 1-5. Thus the cam 272 is effective to advance and retract the needle 238 in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1-5. The graph of Fig. is applicable to the modified valve of Figs. 8 and 9.

All of the illustrated valves provide continuously variable control over the flow of gas, throughout a predetermined range of rotation of the manually operable valve member. After the valve member has been rotated from its shut-off position to its fully opened position, the rate of flow may be quickly reduced by further rotation of the valve member. In this way a rapid transition can be made between a heat output suitable for boiling water and one suitable for frying and other general cooking. Additional rotation of the valve member will then bring about a gradual further reduction in the flow of gas, until an extremely low, minimum flow rate is reached.

It will be recognized that the valves of the present invention are extremely versatile yet are simple and low in cost. With these valves it is possible to effect precise adjustment of the flow of gas over an extremely wide range.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a valve for a gas burner or the like, the combination comprising a valve body having a needle-receiving bore therein, nozzle means on said body defining a discharge orifice communicating coaxially with the front end of said bore, said body having a plug-receiving bore communicating coaxially with the rear end of said needle-receiving bore, a valve needle movable into and out of said orifice and having three longitudinal fins thereon slidably received in said needle-receiving bore. one of said fins having a greater height than the other of said fins, said body having a key-way therein extending along said bore and receiving said one of said fins for orienting and preventing rotation of said needle, said needle having longitudinal channels extending therealong between said fins to carry gas along said needle-receiving bore, a valve plug received in said plug-receiving bore for manual rotation therein, an inlet passage extending in said body to said plug, port means in said plug affording communication between said passage and said needlereceiving bore for a range of rotation of said plug, a ringshaped face cam fixedly received over said fins at the rear end of said needle and having a key-way therein' 2. In a valve for a gas burner or the like, the combina-- tion comprising a valve body having a needle-receiving bore therein, nozzle means on said body defining a discharge orifice communicating coaxially with the front end of said bore, said body having a plug-receiving bore communicating coaxially with the rear end of said needlereceiving bore, a valve needle movable along said needlereceiving bore and into and out of said orifice, said needle having three longitudinal fins thereon slidably received in said needle-receiving bore, one of said fins having a greater height than the others of said fins, said needle-receiving bore having a keyway therein slidably receiving one of said fins to orient said needle, a valve plug received in said plug-receiving bore for manual rotation therein, an inlet passage extending in said body to said plug, port means in said plug affording communication between said passage and said needle-receiving bore for a range of rotation of said plug, said needle having longitudinal channels extending therealong between said fins to carry gas along said needle-receiving bore, a ringshaped face cam fixedly received over said fins at the rear end of said needle and having a key-way therein for receiving said one of said fins, a cam following actuator element extending forwardly from said plug and engaging said cam, and a coil spring disposed around said needle and compressed between said nozzle means and the front ends of said fins for biasing said needle rearwardly and thereby holding said cam against said actuator element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,389 Allan June 8, 1915 2,262,669 Ellis Nov. 11, 1941 2,334,346 Nueller Nov. 16, 1943 2,552,991 McWhorter May 15, 1951 2,597,874 Koch et al May 27, 1952 2,650,612 'Brumbaugh Sept. 1, 1953 2,721,053 Fry Oct. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,739 Great Britain Mar. 4, 1932 465,494 Great Britain May 7, 1937 494,599 Belgium Apr. 15, 1950 

